QinetiQ unveils Sea Scout UUV

TAMPA — QinetiQ North America unveiled a lightweight, air-launched prototype Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) engineered with three flexible antennas and the ability to accommodate two separate sensor payloads, company officials explained May 14 at the 2013 Special Operations Forces Industry Conference here.

“It is designed to be deployed from a sonobuoy launch container which can drop from a SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter or a P-8 [Poseidon surveillance plane]. Also, this has the ability to pivot vertically and expose antennas above the surface while using its motor to maintain stability,” said Carl Carlson, Sea Scout business development manager, QinetiQ.

The antennas are able to receive a GPS signal, he added.

The Sea Scout UUV can travel at speeds up to 15 knots and travel for up to 8 hours at slower speeds. The Sea Scout’s propulsion is built around a seawater flooded motor with a high-power handling capability, according to QinetiQ’s fact sheet on the system.

“This is designed to have two different payloads in the nose. Power and signal connections for two separate payload connections are provided,” he added.

The idea is to have an air or water– launched UUV able to go underwater and use various sensor technologies for Anti-Submarine Warfare and Mine Countermeasures down to depths of 200 meters beneath the surface.